Cash on the side...

I heard somewhere that you cannot work if you're on the JET programme otherwise you'll be kicked out. Is this true? Can you work outside of schools, such as maybe tutoring or even something unrelated with teaching altogether?

I think technically you are not allowed to do this....however, I think you will find that the JET wage is ample. It`s enough for me anyway.
I know a few JETS who run evening English Classes and earn a bit of extra cash that way though.

Technically, you can work, but you can't earn money. Hence lots of JETs find themselves doing a one evening per week eikaiwa class at the town hall, and either they dont get paid, or its all official, and they get paid by their contracting organisation.

However, like most things in Japan, the rules are flexible so long as you dont "get caught". Eg, if your supervisor knows, they have to stop you, but even if they suspect, they probably dont want the hassle of having to report it, so they are unlikely to stalk you to find out.

As for getting fired, very unlikely. Probable worst case, you wont get re-contracted. Most likely, you just get a stern talking to.

Matt

Disclaimer: Everyone's Supervisor is Different, and your Supe is probably the one bastard who will stalk you!

My Japanese teacher told me that someone worked as a private tutor for an hour or two a week, and the student learned something new which they used in class. The teacher asked them how they learned it, and they said so-and-so JET taught me it in my tutoring session with them.

My Japanese teacher told me that someone worked as a private tutor for an hour or two a week, and the student learned something new which they used in class. The teacher asked them how they learned it, and they said so-and-so JET taught me it in my tutoring session with them.

The next day they got kicked out of the program...

:?:

Makes you wonder about the quality of the JET... If they were a good JET, the school wouldn't want to get rid of them, and would cut them some slack (in most cases). If they were crap, the school was probably looking for a reason to kick them out....

Either that, or someone with a ruler up their ass got wind of it, and got exciting throwing the book at them.